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mitskacir's review
3.0
Some of these stories left me a little baffled, while others ended with a small moment of puzzled satisfaction. I don't think these will stick with me for very long, but it was fun to read something with the tone of fairy tales or folk stories. Some of the ideas and imagery were quite enchanting, and I think it would have been fun if these were illustrated.
bjlinard's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
kj_suguitan's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
versmonesprit's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
To preface, being my first ever NYRB, this held a special place in my heart. My expectations were only heightened by the amazing feedback from book friends and John Bester’s foreword full of so much love. And while the adorable little drawings had my heart through the entirety of the book, I can’t say the same for the stories.
The quality is very hit and miss. Kenji Miyazawa might be a much better writer in his original Japanese, but there’s neither enough character nor substance to land them in translation. Sure, a few are great, some are alright, but the bad ones are plainly cruel when not criminally boring.
Perhaps Bester does set Miyazawa up for failure, because immediately with the first story his allegation that there are no real villains crumbles. Needless cruelty and straight out evil in fact crop up far too many times through these stories, and they’re always profoundly disgusting.
Likewise, while Bester’s right that there’s constant motion in Miyazawa’s tales, he’s wrong that there’s also a feeling of open space. I find Miyazawa fails to do latter to the point where the stories can feel claustrophobic despite being set in open spaces. The constant motion does not help this feeling of confinement, as it gets tiring.
There are a few stories I’d liken to folktales, which I’m usually a huge fan of. Of the ones present in this collection, I liked some, but the rest did absolutely nothing for me.
A lot of the stories here are plagued with the going-nowhere disease, when they aren’t being vilely cruel. As a result, the majority feel well below average in quality. A few of the stories have a Ghibli sort of DNA, but they are far and few in between.
My overall experience with Miyazawa was, unfortunately, piss poor. I really wouldn’t recommend these stories to anyone who isn’t a cat murdering psychopath.
The quality is very hit and miss. Kenji Miyazawa might be a much better writer in his original Japanese, but there’s neither enough character nor substance to land them in translation. Sure, a few are great, some are alright, but the bad ones are plainly cruel when not criminally boring.
Perhaps Bester does set Miyazawa up for failure, because immediately with the first story his allegation that there are no real villains crumbles. Needless cruelty and straight out evil in fact crop up far too many times through these stories, and they’re always profoundly disgusting.
Likewise, while Bester’s right that there’s constant motion in Miyazawa’s tales, he’s wrong that there’s also a feeling of open space. I find Miyazawa fails to do latter to the point where the stories can feel claustrophobic despite being set in open spaces. The constant motion does not help this feeling of confinement, as it gets tiring.
There are a few stories I’d liken to folktales, which I’m usually a huge fan of. Of the ones present in this collection, I liked some, but the rest did absolutely nothing for me.
A lot of the stories here are plagued with the going-nowhere disease, when they aren’t being vilely cruel. As a result, the majority feel well below average in quality. A few of the stories have a Ghibli sort of DNA, but they are far and few in between.
My overall experience with Miyazawa was, unfortunately, piss poor. I really wouldn’t recommend these stories to anyone who isn’t a cat murdering psychopath.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
erintowner's review
3.0
Miyazawa's writing evokes beautiful natural images. My favorite stories from this collection were: The Bears of Nametoko, Wildcat and the Acorns, The Red Blanket, The Ungrateful Rat, March by Moonlight, Night of the Festival, The Fire Stone, and Kenju's Wood.
nichetea's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
caseyreadslol's review against another edition
there's an enchanting quality to some stories but overall just don't have motivation to keep wading through
interlibraryloan's review against another edition
3.0
Like reading a fairy-tale upside down. No easy moralizing, but packed with starry and down-to-earth imagery alike.
reggiewoods's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Although most of Miyazawa’s tales contain personified animals, it would be disingenuous to consider these children’s stories; they are appropriate for all ages. These stories have a complexity and, often, a moral ambiguity, that is not found in their western counterparts. Where Aesop’s fables teach lessons and takes sides, Miyazawa often makes the focal point of the tale a celebration of beauty, compassion, and forgiveness (but not always!). If you are a fan of short-stories or tales from those like the Brother’s Grimm or Mother Goose, you will enjoy this collection and the different cultural point-of-view it offers traditional tales.